02.01.2024

The toothpaste brand KAREX, addressing the growing issue of molar incisor hypomineralization, particularly in children, the innovative ALPECIN Grey Attack shampoo for gradually darker hair and younger appearance, as well as the gynecological VAGISAN range for a healthier intimate area, all achieved double-digit growth.

In total, the Bielefeld-based Dr. Wolff Group achieved a preliminary annual revenue of 390.6 million euros in the fiscal year 2023. The company thus exceeded the previous year’s sales of 363.8 million euros and continued its long-term growth.

Eduard R. Dörrenberg, managing partner of the Dr. Wolff Group, commented on the results: “Thanks to our unique, highly effective products and innovations, we were able to successfully distinguish ourselves from the general trend in 2023, even though the world has been in a constant crisis mode for almost four years. The framework conditions, especially in terms of costs, the ever-increasing bureaucracy, and European overregulation, continue to make entrepreneurial activities more challenging.”

With a growth of 7.5 percent over the previous year, the Dr. Wolff Group demonstrates that it is successfully mastering current challenges, taking opportunities, and thus further strengthening its position in the market. The men’s shampoo ALPECIN Grey Attack became the most successful product launch in drugstores in 2023 and was also an online bestseller. In addition, other problem-solving products have convinced consumers, such as the KAREX toothpaste with BioHAP instead of fluoride for modern caries protection and against chalky teeth, LINOLA Duo as an anti-inflammatory and itch-relieving cream, and the gynecological preparation VAGISAN Lactic Acid against vaginal infections.

The Dr. Wolff Group remains true to its commitment to create products that improve the quality of life through continuous research and development. With a very well-filled pipeline of new health and care products, the company continues to look optimistically towards the coming year.

“Our glass at Dr. Wolff is certainly half full, but overall, I am only cautiously optimistic, as necessary changes are unfortunately only being discussed. I would like to see less ideology and more scientific facts and realism in both debates and implementation. The major issues of education, infrastructure, and integration must finally be tackled with courage. Dr. Wolff Group will definitely face the challenges, implement the necessary changes, and also continue to drive internationalization,” says Dörrenberg.

Further details on the fiscal year 2023 will be announced by the Dr. Wolff Group at its annual press conference in a few weeks.

10.08.2023

In the first half of the year, the Dr. Wolff Group was able to increase sales by 6 percent compared to the same period of the previous year. “We currently expect further growth above average for the remainder of the year, so that we should reach sales of 400 million euros by the end of the year as planned,” Managing Partner Eduard R. Dörrenberg predicts.

The recent successful launch of the Alpecin Grey Attack Caffeine & Color Shampoo is expected to contribute to overall growth. In addition to caffeine as well-established active ingredient for strong hair, this innovative shampoo contains a novel and patent-pending color complex darkening gray hair gradually in the long term with the help of an oxygen reaction after daily shampooing. “The scientific data from studies published beforehand were already promising. This product launch is the most successful we’ve ever had,” says Dörrenberg who has now been running the company for more than 25 years.

Shampoo manufacturer Dr. Wolff initially supported the launch with one online advertisement only. “After three hours, we were already sold out online,” Dörrenberg states. According to the Managing Partner, the willingness of all the retailers involved to ramp up stocks immediately was remarkable. Currently, supply chain management is thus working intensively to prevent supply bottlenecks during the upcoming TV campaigns, especially since the product became the top-selling shampoo in the German drugstore market after just four weeks as well as bestseller in the entire beauty category on Amazon.

Dr. Wolff research reaches a further milestone in the field of oral care 

A recently published long-term study conducted under highest scientific standards, in which adult participants brushed their teeth for 18 months with either hydroxyapatite toothpaste or fluoride toothpaste, provides renewed evidence of the efficacy of hydroxyapatite. Results show that the active ingredient hydroxyapatite (HAP) and commonly used fluoride are equally effective in cavity prophylaxis. This is an important result for Dr. Wolff as the company uses the natural active ingredient HAP as a modern alternative in all its dental care products, generating a 15 percent increase in sales in this segment.

“We are continuing to invest in research and innovative products and are thus consistently pursuing our Dr. Wolff course,” the entrepreneur states. In addition, there is also very good news from Berlin for people who sweat excessively. After a one-year introductory phase for Axhidrox®, a cream to combat heavy underarm sweating, an agreement has been achieved with the German Federal Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds for the permanent reimbursement of the anticholinergic pharmaceutical.

Expansion of the management board

On September 1, 2023, Dr. Andreas Brinkhoff (45) will strengthen the management of the Dr. Wolff Group as the fourth member with responsibility for supply chain and IT, paving the way for the organization’s future. This will result in the following areas of responsibility: Dr. Christian Mestwerdt will continue to be responsible for Finance, Controlling, Administration and Regulatory Affairs. Managing Partner Christoph Harras-Wolff will be responsible for Legal Affairs, Associations and Sustainability. Managing Partner Eduard R. Dörrenberg will be responsible for Research and Development, Marketing, Sales as well as Human Resources and took over as Chairman of the Management Board in April.

25.11.2022

Sweating. A vital process, but when people feel they sweat too much, it becomes a burden. Most of all for those who suffer from so-called primary hyperhidrosis – a condition that is characterised by excessively sweating for no apparent reason. The heavy sweat production often significantly affects the emotional and mental health of those affected.

It is assumed that around 5 percent[1] of the German population suffer from this chronic disease. However, the number of unreported cases is likely to be much higher, as many of those affected suffer silently and do not talk about their condition – neither to confidants nor to a doctor. It often takes several years before people affected reach out for help. Dr. Wolff, a pharmaceutical company based in Bielefeld, Germany, wants to lower exactly this inhibition threshold – with a new online service:

Disease awareness website aims to bring illness out of niche

To raise awareness of hyperhidrosis among the general public Dr. Wolff launched a digital information platform succinctly named nervtdichdeinschwitzen.de (= does your sweating annoy you). The main concern of the site is to provide detailed and interesting information about this comparatively unknown illness.

The initiative pursues the self-declared goal of making a broad public aware of the clinical picture and to simplify the communication between doctor and patient. The site encourages users to consult a trusted physician and discuss their symptoms. Site users can do an initial symptom check and get a first estimate on whether their sweating could be pathological. Furthermore, they may search online for a physician via our online service page. NervtDichDeinSchwitzen.de offers various offline and online options to search for a physician and to lower the inhibition threshold to get in contact. 

Plea: “Go see a doctor you trust and get help”.

“We want knowledge about the illness to increase, for hyperhidrosis to become a topic of conversation, and for those affected to lose their fear and seek help,” explains Eduard R. Dörrenberg, managing partner of the pharmaceutical manufacturer Dr. Wolff. Because the good news is: pathological sweating is usually treatable, the psychological strain can be reduced and the quality of life improved. However, people affected need to see a physician they trust in. Many people do not know that sweating may in some cases be pathological – after all, to a certain extent it is a normal and vital bodily function. PD Dr. Christoph Schick, founder of the German Hyperhidrosis Center in Munich says: “If you are affected by hyperhidrosis, I strongly recommend: Do something about it! The sooner you do something, the longer you well benefit from the treatment effect.”

About hyperhidrosis

Approximately 5 % of people worldwide suffer from permanent excessive sweating without an identifiable cause, so-called “primary hyperhidrosis”. This chronic disease is a great burden for patients and severely limits their quality of life. Primary hyperhidrosis ranges in severity from mild wetness to heavy dripping and can lead to a significant impact on quality of life. This may significantly affect work, social relationships, physical and leisure activities, as well as emotional and mental health. Patients with primary axillary hyperhidrosis suffer from excessive sweat production in the armpits beyond the amount required to regulate normal body temperature.

About Dr. Wolff

Dr. Wolff – since 1905, the name has stood for research that solves people’s skin-, hair-, and dental problems with innovative active ingredients. We focus our effort on scientifically proven benefits of the products. Since the company was founded, Dr. Wolff has maintained close cooperation with renowned scientists. From the first branded product, Hämatopan, to today’s internationally available products, in-house research provides the basis for innovative active ingredients and product developments. The company is managed by the fourth generation of the family and is growing with 780 employees worldwide. Dr. Wolff operates in 62 countries. For more information, please go to: Dr. Wolff Group

Press Contact Dr. Wolff-Group

Marcel Klöpping          Phone: +49 (0) 521 8808-243

E-mail: pr@drwolffgroup.com

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[1] Doolittle J, et al., Arch Dermatol Res 2016; 308(10): 743-749.